As you may know, SB Nation has been conducting a mock NHL draft across the network, the results of which you can catch up on here, and which leave us picking for the Caps at 26. After much deliberation, we select… Brock Nelson out of Warroad High School in Minnesota.
Nelson, a 6-3, 205-pound center from the same high school that produced T.J. Oshie, is described as a “hard-skating power-forward” with “soft hands and an excellent shot” that projects to be a second-line center. He doesn’t have “any glaring weaknesses as he plays well in all three zones” and will “make his presence known with his strength and ability to get to the net.” Put it all together and Nelson “has the size, speed, competitive level, and even bloodlines to be a very good pro.” Bloodlines, you say? Yep – Nelson’s uncle is former Caps and Miracle-on-Icer Dave Christian, a member of one of pucks’ premiere families… and we know how George McPhee loves those bloodlines.
Read more about Nelson at the links above, and be sure to stick with Japers’ Rink throughout the Draft, as I’ll be out in L.A. taking it all in.